Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act of 2026
Sen. Hirono Introduces Bill to Double Maximum Pell Grant and Expand Eligibility to Dreamer Students
This bill was recently introduced in the Senate and sent to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions for review. It is currently in the early stages of the legislative process and is not yet scheduled for a vote. The bill is considered active as it waits for the committee to decide on its next steps.
Legislative Progress
While the bill has strong support from many Democrats, its high cost and the inclusion of aid for undocumented students will likely face significant opposition from Republicans.
Key Points
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Life & Work
Veterans attending college on Pell Grants would benefit from the higher maximum award and extended eligibility window of 18 semesters. The Dreamer student provision also specifically includes individuals who served at least 2 years in the uniformed services as a qualifying pathway, opening up aid to noncitizen veterans.
“has served in the uniformed services (as such term is defined in section 101 of title 10, United States Code) for not less than 2 years and, if discharged, received an honorable discharge”
Programs
Milestones
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in Senate
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
News
No related news coverage found for this legislation yet.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act of 2026
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
(28)Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.